page 1 Friday, July 17, 2009 Table of Contents I believe both Music 1 Trade Organizations Trade Orgs Best As City and the music Work Best As Separate industry around the Entities Separate Entities world benefit from 2 Twitter Chart Enters by Sarah Skates having healthy Deep Dive Data Phase While the goals of Nashville’s top three organizations devoted to 3 CMT Launches Music music trade groups are closely aligned, each each. We work together City Madness, The has issues and missions specific to its with AMA and CMA Singing Bee genre. The Country Music Association, whenever mutual 4 GMA Immerse Adds Americana Music Association, and opportunities arise (in Music Business International Bluegrass Music Association addition to many other Workshops work tirelessly to promote the music they music trades), but 4 Loveless Recruits Top represent to consumers and the industry. having ‘one large trade Talent For Mountain A recent poll on MusicRow.com posed organization’ would be akin to suggesting Soul II the following question: "Would Music City one Chamber of Commerce to serve New 4 Foster To Cheer would be better off if the CMA, AMA and York, L.A. and Nashville.” Fabulous Fifty IBMA merged and became one large trade “While there are some artists and industry 5 DISClaimer: Jason organization?" Our readers responded with employees whose work crosses between Crabb Disc of the Day an overwhelming “no.” The results were 77 them, Country, Bluegrass and Americana percent “No,” and 23 percent “Yes.” are three distinct genres of music,” agrees CMA CEO Tammy Genovese. “Each Music Row IBMA leader Dan Communications, LLC Hays explains, “As format is better served 1231 17th Ave. S. by having a specific Nashville, TN 37212 genres of music... 615-321-3617 Bluegrass, Americana trade association to [email protected] and Country have represent them and their www.musicrow.com important and interrelated unique needs instead of connections with one one combined another, but they're three organization. However, distinct communities. we highly respect both Dan Hays Each of the organizations the other organizations listed functions as the Tammy Genovese and all that they do.” ‘chamber of commerce’ for their community and each has its own unique culture, economic VOTE: new www.MusicRow.com Poll climate and professional development Do you follow MusicRow on Twitter, needs. Facebook or both social networks? ©2009, MusicRow Communications, LLC—ALL RIGHTS RESERVED [email protected] page 2 Friday, July 17, 2009 Twitter Chart Enters Deep Dive Data Phase by David M. Ross Recent worldwide events have highlighted Twitter's enormous reach, user engagement and the speed with which news travels inside its 24/7/365 "real-time conversation." Not only has the social network with the bluebird logo become a marketing ally for established entertainers and personalities, it is also being used by developing artists to grow and communicate with fans; and that includes country artists. Several weeks ago MusicRow debuted a list of the Top Songwriter Karyn Williams has signed a publishing contract with Brentwood-Benson Publishing. Williams has released a book she co-wrote 75 country artists on Twitter, ranking those artists by the with her father, Pat Williams, an executive with Orlando Magic basketball, entitled The Takeaway: 20 Unforgettable Life Lessons Every Father Should Pass On To His Child. The book also features a companion single, "Taking You With Me." (L-R): SESAC's Tim Fink, Brentwood-Benson Publishing's Stacey Willbur, Karyn Williams, Brentwood Benson's Eric Hurt and Dale Mathews. Photo: Ed Rode Red Stripe Plane Music songwriter Shelley Skidmore recently signed with BMI. (L-R): Jody Williams, BMI VP Writer/Publisher Relations; Skidmore, Red Stripe Plane Music songwriter Billy Joe Walker, Jr.; Ginny Johnson Walker; and Kim Jones, RSP VP Creative Services. Photo: Kay Williams ©2009, MusicRow Communications, LLC—ALL RIGHTS RESERVED [email protected] page 3 Friday, July 17, 2009 number of followers who have signed up to receive their Tweets (140 character messages). Programming for the chart was created by Aristoworks' Jon Walker. Phase two of the project has added 7-day climb +/- percentages plus an artist detail page which graphs the artist's follower acquisition progress over time. The new "stats" area accesses information directly from Twitter to make growth predictions and give the artist an overall Twitter rank. An artist's growth over time is charted inside the deep dive "stats" area, and a variety of metrics are offered. For example, Miley Cyrus' account which sits at the top of the chart has almost 1.3 million followers. Her overall Twitter ranking is No. 18 and most recent 7-day follower increase was 7%. Kellie Pickler sits at No. 4 on the MusicRow Twitter list Songwriter Sammi Moore has signed her first publishing deal with Studio 33 Music Group. Moore recently performed at NSAI’s exclusive Pitch-To- with over 80,000 followers, an average daily growth of 1,129 Publisher Luncheon and has opened for The Marshall Tucker Band, Big & followers and an overall Twitter ranking of 401. Rich, Bucky Covington, James Otto, and more. (L-R) back: Redline Ent.'s Because of limitations created from within the Twitter Wes Mayers, Studio 33 owner Campbell Wright, Moore, NSAI Exec. Dir. system, the chart numbers are updated once daily. However, Bart Herbison, and NSAI Membership Dir. Sheree Spoltore. Front: Studio each artist's name on the chart is linked directly to their 33’s Creative Dir. Amanda Haffecke and Moore’s attorney Steve Weaver. Twitter page where one can find real time follower info. CMT Launches Music City Madness, The Singing Bee CMT.com’s fourth annual Music City Madness competition returned Tuesday (7/14) with Reba as the host. The winner of the online talent contest will receive a chance to audition for execs at label partner, The Valory Music Co., as well as a trip to Nashville to record CMT’s Studio 330 Sessions and a Dallas Davidson celebrated his first trip to the top of the country backstage experience with Reba. She will serve as an online charts on July 13 at BMI. Davidson co-wrote "Start A Band" with Ashley mentor for the contestants via CMT.com video blogs. Fellow Gorley and Kelley Lovelace. The song was published by songwriter Valory/Big Machine artists Jack Ingram, Jewel, Justin Brett Jones’ Big Borassa Music and recorded by Brad Paisley and Keith Moore and Jimmy Wayne will also help Music City Madness Urban. (L-R): BMI’s Mark Mason, Sony Music Nashville’s Skip Bishop, Lovelace, Davidson, Gorley, Sony Music Nashville’s Butch Waugh, Jones, contestants. Rhapsody is a first time sponsor of the contest and BMI’s Perry Howard. Photo: Drew Maynard ©2009, MusicRow Communications, LLC—ALL RIGHTS RESERVED [email protected] page 4 Friday, July 17, 2009 Show Dog's Trailer Choir spent the 4th of July weekend performing at Colorado's Greeley Stampede before returning to Music City to appear on WLAC's "Music Row Show" July 7. They also hosted the syndicated radio show, "Big Time Saturday Night," before opening for country Columbia Nashville newcomer Josh Thompson visits with friends at legend Merle Haggard at Iowa's Riverside Casino on July 10. (L-R): Citadel while promoting his debut single, "Beer On The Table." (L-R): Crystal Hoyt, WKMK/New Jersey PD Captain Jack Aponte, Butter, Big Richard Lee, Thompson, Gary Reynolds, and Columbia Nashville Vinny and Shug. regional Alex Valentine. which last year garnered over 22 million online, fan votes. Richardson, Dobro player Rob Ickes, singer Jon Randall Entries accepted through Oct. 5 at www.madness.CMT.com. and harmony vocalists Rebecca Lynn Howard, all of whom CMT’s hit new karaoke-style singing competition, The had backed Patty on the original Mountain Soul. But Mountain Singing Bee, boasts four members of Nashville’s music Soul II has some new textures as well. Bluegrass greats Del community in its band, “The Beehive.” The TV series tests and Ronnie McCoury participated, as did Vince Gill, Carl contestants’ lyrical knowledge of popular songs and relies Jackson, Bryan Sutton, Mike Auldridge, Emmylou Harris, heavily on the professional singers—Nashvillians Jared steel guitarist Al Perkins, Patty's 16-year-old vocal Johnson, Kim Keyes, Kim Parent and Bobby Tomberlin, discovery Sydni Perry and several others. as well as the rest of the Beehive—to perform portions of the songs. Foster To Cheer Fabulous Fifty Darius Rucker, Dierks Bentley, GMA Immerse Adds Music Business Randy Rogers Band, Marc Broussard, Bill Lloyd, Lee Roy Parnell and Workshops others are set to help songwriter/artist Known for it's top notch training for artists, songwriters Radney Foster ring in his 50th birthday and worship leaders, the Gospel Music Association has now with style. The hitmaker will debut music added training for future music business professionals to its from his upcoming album, Revival, and new event, Immerse, which takes place at Belmont University the other artists will take the stage. The July 29-Aug. 2. Artist management, marketing, radio party hits the Exit/In on Mon., July 20 at promotion, music publishing, publicity and more will be 8 PM. Tickets, $10, at exitin.com. Radney Foster covered. Teachers and panelists include Laurie Anderson (True Artist Management), Lesley Burbridge Bates (Rogers & Cowan), Mark Funderburg (Word Entertainment), Jeff Local Radio Wrap-up Gregg (Creative Artists Agency), John Mullins (SESAC), At Cumulus' WSM-FM (The Wolf) Donna Britt has left Brad O’Donnell (EMI CMG), Mitchell Solarek (Maximum her post as morning co-host, alongside Charley Connolly. Artist Group), Nina Williams (Provident Music Group), Jody She will continue her other role as Exec. Producer for Williams (BMI) and Holly Zabka (Essential Music Publishing).